SHARED parental leave is coming and for children born or adopted after April 4, 2015, the mother can choose to sacrifice some of her maternity/adoption leave, which her partner can then take instead.

And if sacrificed during the first 39 weeks of leave, then there’s the possibility of shared parental pay (ShPP) as well.

Given the rules concerning qualification, time limits and notice requirements, not to mention the fact that the mother and her partner may work for different employers, or one may not work at all, it’s perhaps not surprising that the legislation is fiendishly complex, and employers are strongly advised to get ahead of the curve, understand the situation and ideally establish a shared parental leave policy.

For advice on how this may affect your business please contact Lamb Brooks’ employment specialist Kirstie Johnson by calling 01256 305574, or email her at kirstie.johnson@lambbrooks.com, or call David Argent on 01256 305534 who can be emailed at david.argent@lambbrooks.com.